Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Use Your Verbs Wisely

After a while, active writing becomes easier. Because of this, I sometimes grow lazier. I forget to choose my verbs wisely. Sometimes I forget they're good for more than just strong writing. They're needed to set the mood of a scene. The right verb can pull the emotion off a page and fling it into the reader's heart.

What an awesome image! I probably would've wrote edged or turned up, but do you see how the word flirted creates an immediate feeling? It more than shows.

It evokes.

Do you fall into the trap of using the same verbs over and over? Do you ever forget to try your best because something is easy for you? Which authors do you feel use language in fresh and exciting ways?

I applied this concept to my last manuscript during the editing phase, but my crit partners said it made it sound forced. So while I try to find vibrant verbs, I'm trying to tone it down so it doesn't distract the reader too much. LOL

Love that quote from Patti's book! You're so right. It's easy to slip into sloppy. But if we're consciously trying to take our writing to the next level, then perhaps we need to slow down just a bit and be more intentional with what verbs were choosing! Thanks for that reminder!

LOL Tamika, I like dressing up too! I thought it was a beautiful image too. Flirting is such a give and take, a back and forth, and that's exactly what I pictured the heroine's lips doing.

Wendy, I really, really want to read that book!

Hey Jody, that's what I'm trying to do. It's so easy to be armed with an arsenal of verbs and forget to consider all the other ones.

LOL Donna! I do the same thing. :-)

Sarah, that's tough, right? Maybe you do need to tone down the verbs, or maybe the crit partners are used to a more passive voice so it didn't sound like you to them. Either way, I hope you find the right balance. I completely agree that our verbs should add to the writing, not detract from it.

Hi Robyn, it IS hard to find that perfect verb. I'm not sure I could've come up with flirt, but what a beautiful way to show the smile! I'm looking forward to reading more of Patti's work. :-)

This is stuff I struggle with constatntly. But it's just so easy to slip in "was" everywhere. It takes a conscious effort to use those fancy action verbs, and still...I doubt I'd ever have thought of something as ingenious as "flirted" for a smile.

I can't come up with an author off the top of my head that uses awesome verbs, but I'm getting a few good names off your other comments. Thanks, guys.

This is my battle ground. I really need to take more time in evoking feeling rather than telling feeling. it's not an easy thing to do. I find myself constantly making sophmoric blunders. That's what editings for, right?

Ah, yes. The fresh verb. I'm trying, I really am. But I'm writing a novel with fire right now, and I swear there aren't that many great fiery verbs! I keep using raged and danced and it's driving me nuts!

It is easy to become repetative, especially when we are in the middle of trying to get the first draft out of our heads and onto the page. It's great to remember that verbs can be as powerful in describing something as a plain adjective.

And I'm glad you liked my book cover! I worked really hard with my designer to create one that touched on specific elements from the book. I'm afraid I rejected her first three designs. I felt so bad. :P

One of my fave authors for using imagery is Alice Hoffman. Here's an example: Wishes are brutal unforgiving things, they burn your tongue the moment they're spoken and you can never take them back. They bruise and bake and come back to haunt you.

This is from her book: The Ice Queen, taken from the first paragraph of chapter one. She STARTS the book this way! Wow!

Strong verbs and strong imagery are both things I end up writing in during edits - my style tends to be very basic and bare bones in my first drafts, when all I seem to want to do is get the story down!

Oh Susan, you cracked me up when you said that about the dictionary!!! Also, concreteness. Yes. That's me too. Maybe why her usage of flirted is so brilliant, because it's abstract and refers to something we feel rather something that is visual.

Cindy, I hope we both get it down. I'm much more concrete so this is a great lesson for me. :-)

Anita, gosh, I've only read two of Hoffman's books, and it was when I was in high school, but even then I noticed and loved her writing. I need to pick one up again. Thanks for sharing that. Beautiful!

Belle, thank goodness for edits! LOL It's good that you can see where the story is bare and dress it up some.

LOL Krista! :-) You know though, Lacy wrote plenty of she smiled. That's okay to do. But sometimes you just have to switch it up, right? Hehee. I bet you have some great sentences in your manuscripts. :-)

What a great example!! I LOVE that! For sure, when I write the rough draft, I don't htink about verbs too much. I just get the words out. It's during revisions where I really try to evoke the right emotion. Thanks for the reminder, JEssica!

I have to put something aside and go back to it in a cold blooded way. I like to circle all my passives and weak verbs - anything that jumps out to me as BORING. It's not easy to see.You have to let the mean editor who's in a bad mood (sitting on your shoulder) come out with her red pen. She's especially ruthless at times and that's a good thing!

But when the right word comes along --that's the joy of writing for me.

I definitely use the same verbs way too much. I think during NaNo, when all I'm concerned about is getting words on the page, I fall into the trap of repetitive verb usage. Then it's hard for me to break it later on. Writing in passive voice is one of my BIGGEST hurdles I have to overcome in writing.

Good post. I especially like ones like this that have multi-genre application. I do use the same verbs repeatedly and have to read and reread to think of another one. Authors who use language in fresh ways for me are Will Willimon and Fred Craddock. Good post.

Jeanette,I like to do that too! The only annoying thing is that Word sometimes puts the squigglies under my new verb. *grin*

Kara, I think it makes a difference too.

Dara, if that's the biggest hurdle, then don't worry! It's so much easier to change passive to active, than to try to make a boring character interesting, or worse, a boring plot! :-) You'll be fine. That's what editing and crit partners are for!

Hey Warren,Thanks for the examples! I've never heard of those authors. Yeah, I'd imagine with non-fiction verbiage would be just as important. Speaking of which, I need to start reading some of your devotions! I have the book, just have to pull it out. :-)

My heart is filled with romantic stories, my shelves are loaded with chocolate and I'm always longing for one more cup of Starbucks. Besides that, I write for Love Inspired Historical and am a happy mom to a bunch of little boys. I post on Wednesdays and love connecting with readers and writers.